For this freedom of song beneath the rain
we’ll need to give it all
For this freedom of being closely tied
to the sweet, steady insides of the people
we’ll need to give it all
For this freedom of sunflower open in the dawn of factories
switched on and
schools lit
and of earth creaking and child awakening
we’ll need to give it all
There is no alternative but freedom
There is no other way but freedom
There is no other homeland but freedom
There will be no more poem if not for the
violent music of freedom
For this freedom which is the fear
of those who always violated it
in the name of magnificent miseries
For this freedom which is the night of the oppressors
and the definitive dawn of all the people now invincible
For this freedom revealing the sunken pupils
the bare feet
the leaky roofs
and the eyes of children who
wandered in the dust
For this freedom which is the empire of youth
For this freedom
beautiful like life
we’ll need to give it all
if necessary
even shadow
and it will never be enough

Fayad Jamis (1930-1988)